Test-connector



J. FREDRICKS.

TEST CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1918.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

. connect; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal end of a telephone relay with UNITED srAr-ss PATENT OFFICE,

JOIN or was names, NEW YORK, ASSIGHOB 'ro wns'rnm mc'rarc 00128, INCORPORATED, O! NEW YORK, N. Y-, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BET-CONNECTOR s umm 0! 1mm 2mm.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

- Application fled February 14, 1918. Serial Io. $17,141.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Fnnmucxs,

a citizen of the United States, resid' at Kin of Bridge,-in the county of Bronx, tate ew York, have invented certaln new and useful Im rovements in Test-Connectors, of which't e following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. This invention relates to improvements in electrical connectors which are adapted to be used in making temporary connections with electrical conductors, and more particularly with terminals of electrical apparatus.

The rincipal object of the myentlon is to provide a test connector which is adapted to occupy when in posit on but very little more space Ehan is occupled by the apparatus termina "itself, whereby terminals which are mounted in close proximity may betested without short-circuiting or crosslng between the test connectors. In accordance with-a feature of the invention,-a test connector is provided which comprises a tube which may be either of conducting or'nonconducting material and which carries a terminal of an] electrical circuitwhich is adapted to closely -embrzwe the conductor or apparatus terminal to be tested. The device is particularly applicable tov relay terminals, or to terminals of similar telephonic appara- -tus which are mounted in very close relation.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 of the connector; F igs/3 and 4 are perspective views of details of conductors or terminals with which the connector is adapted to a pair of the connectors of the invention in engagement with the terminals thereof.

In testing apparatus, it is customary to use test connectors to obtain temporary connections between the terminals of the apparatus to betested and the conductors leading to the testing device. In 'relays or similar apparatus the terminals are often arranged in such close proximity to each other that it has been found exceedingly difficult with test connectors heretofore 1n use to connect therewith without short-circuiting these adjacent terminals through the medium of the test connectors. Such shortcircuiting is, of course, not desired and will seriously interfere with any test carried on while such a condition exists.

The terminals of apparatus to be tested furthermore differ considerably in shape, some of them being of circular cross sections and others being of substantially oblong cross section as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, and to be capable of general application, it is essential that a test connector be designed to satisfactorily engage thereof is not greater than the minimum diameter of the tube.

The connector of the invention is exceedingly simple in construction and is very eflicient for the signed. I

Referring now to the drawing and the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein, the connector showncom rises a tube 1 which may be of any suitab e matepurpose for which it is derial. The tube may be-of any desired cross section but it has beenfound that a substantially elliptical form as shown in the drawing is especially desirable since it permits its use with conductors having various shapes. The. resilient member 2 is secured on the outside of the tube 1 and extends into an orifice 5 located at a point intermediate the ends of the tube. One end of the tube is left open for the purpose of allowing it to be slipped over a conductor or terminal 3 with which an electrical connection is desired. A test cord 4 is secured to the other end of the tube 1 and is electrically connected to the resilient member 2. The resilient member 2 is secured at one end of the tube 1 by means of the stra s 7 which may be formed by slitting the tu at nearby points and extruding the materialwhich composes the tube intervening between these points. The resilient member 2 can thus be inserted underneath the raised portion which holds the one end thereof in a fixed position. The other end of the resilient member 2 is curved so as to lie in the orifice 5 and touch the opposite side of the tube 1. The test conductor is thus held firmly in contact .with the conductor 3 through the resilience of the member 2. p

The test connector may be easily'connected to a conductor or terminal by sliding the tube 1 over the conductor or terminal 3 which enters the aperture 6, and is engaged by the resilient member 2 secured on the outside of the tube 1. Electrical contact is thus completed with the conductor or terminal 3 bymeans of the member 2 and the tube 1 to which is electrically connected the end of the test cord 4.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with electrical apparatus having a plurality of terminals mounted in close proximity, a tube of nonconducting material having an orifice in one side thereof, a single spring member secured at one'end of said tube and adapted to lie in such orifice to engaggone of said terminals over which said tu slipped.

2. The combination with electrical a paratus having a plurality of termina mounted in close proximity, a tube of the is adapted to be dimensions substantially that of the termi- I paratus having a plurality of terminals mounted in close proximity, a tube of nonconducting material havin an orifice at a point intermediate its en and a single spring member secured at one end of said tube and adaptedto lie in such orifice to engage one of said terminalsover which said tube isadapted to be slipped.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of February, A. D. 1918.

JOHN FREDRIOKS. 

